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Ballads

Ballads. Background: ballads are songs that tell a story popular in England and Scotland popular among the common people sung by minstrels most composers were anonymous. Characteristics of Ballads Rapid movements – goes directly to the action

terence-shirley
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Ballads

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  1. Ballads

  2. Background:ballads are songs that tell a storypopular in England and Scotlandpopular among the common peoplesung by minstrelsmost composers were anonymous

  3. Characteristics of Ballads • Rapid movements – goes directly to the action • setting, time and the appearance of persons involved • Are written done with quick, light strokes – i.e. just a word or two • Characters pop out of nowhere just when needed • and then are dropped just as quickly

  4. Swift changes in locations • sometimes the lines linger at a point of action • in order to underline a fact or enhance • emotional effect (repetition, punctuation)

  5. Repetition: • as an aid to memory • for dramatic purposes • incremental repetition – • a phrase is repeated with small changes

  6. Repetition …Refrains • last line of stanza repeated with slight changes • nonsense refrains • ex. Do wa diddy diddy dum ditty • song lyrics • flower refrains – herbs have medicinal and • supposed magic powers • ex. Parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme • http://sglyrics.myrmid.com/parsley.htm

  7. Hyperbole: exaggeration • Understatement: saying less than you mean

  8. Written in meter, usually iambic • ~ unstressed/stressed U/ • Usually four lines in a stanza • Alternates 4 beats, three beats, four beats, three beats • Second and fourth lines rhyme

  9. Written in meter, usually iambic • ~ unstressed/stressed U/ • Usually four lines in a stanza • Alternates 4 beats, three beats, four beats, three beats • Second and fourth lines rhyme

  10. Use of stock phrases • ~ cliches, common expressions • EX. Make my bed = prepare to die

  11. COMMON SUBJECTS: • Revenge • Domestic crime • Death • Tragedy • Comic battles of the sexes • War

  12. Textbook • Pages 192-198 • “Barbara Allan” page 193 – tragic love story • “Sir Patrick Spens” page 194 – public tragedy • “Get Up and Bar the Door” page 196 – comedy about domestic squabbling

  13. Homework: • Bring in a news story about some tragic event – Due • Find an example (or two or three) of modern ballads (songs) • There are sub-categories such as folk ballads and rock ballads • Bring in a copy of the lyrics and, if possible, a link or copy of the song • Due:

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